I have had the "opportunity" to deal with some very poor business practices lately. I am no business genius, but I find myself giving business advice to total strangers/business owners. Unfortunately, I have been the victim consumer in the situations.
I bought gift cards for my family to The Landing restaurant for Christmas just 4 weeks ago. When my parents went to redeem theirs on their special night out, they were denied and told there was a new manager and that they were not honoring them. Then they were told to call the number on the card to see if "there was even a balance on there." Confused my parents left and went elsewhere to eat. You can imagine how upset I was so I marched myself down there at 8 o'clock PM in my painting attire (thank you very much) and demanded an explanation. The harried manager/owner came over to me and proceeded to dump on me her business woes and how she was cleaning up the prior owner's mess. For 20 minutes. No joke. She kept telling me that she did not actually buy the business The Landing and that there were "no assets" to be transferred so they could not lose more money on patrons' gift cards. She said she was just renting the building...
HUH?!
I was so angry and shocked. I had given these to my family for Christmas!! They had not used them!!
Then this woman had the nerve to get in my face and tell me to stop rolling my eyes at her and that I was being "hostile." Crazy. I still had no clear explanation or apology or a way to get my money back (it is a significant amount).
Another manager came out and had some class and clarity. He explained to me that the previous owner of The Landing had walked out. Done. Finito. And this woman Rachelle and her husband agreed to open a completely new restaurant in its place to keep the employees employed. The owner of the property wants it to remain The Landing (now being called Rachelle's The Landing) in some way to remain a landmark, so that's why the name is the same. Interestingly though, the new owner is on facebook for the restaurant acting like it was just closed for repairs and to get a new menu and that The Landing is now open...lies.
Well, ok then. I get it. Still stinks but ok. I then told the woman that she should not treat future customers like this if she wants her business to succeed. I mean, I know way too much about her business and how the past owner left her with a $2000 trash bill...not for me to know. Anyway, I am sure she was tired and stressed about how her restaurant was about to fail just one week in.
Who is to blame??
SOMEBODY owes me DINNER or MY MONEY!!! sheesh.
SOMEBODY owes me DINNER or MY MONEY!!! sheesh.
3 comments:
That's outrageous! It continues to amaze me how businesses survive with their shoddy practices and service. It's pitiful in this area and makes me so sad. I think you should link this blog post to that Rachelle woman's page. Just horrible.
You should write a letter to the editor.
Whoah! I agree with Maria..letter to the editor or something. That is nuts! I would be sooo upset.
What terrible business practices. They sure won't get any new customers or keep existing ones this way. She should have been gracious and excited you were still willing to use the gift cards and eat there. It sounds as thought it won't be in business long. I wonder if there is a place you can write a review? I am so laughing at you in your paint clothes with your hair up giving them a piece of your mind - I would have done the same!
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